The Justice Department informed North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday that the bathroom bill he signed into law violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act.
“The Department of Justice has determined that, as a result of compliance with and implementation of NC House Bill2, both you and the state of NC are in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Vanita Gupta, principal deputy assistant attorney general, wrote in the letter.
The law was aimed at preventing localities from allowing transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice.
“Access to sex-segregated restrooms and other workplace facilities consistent with gender identity is a term, condition or privilege of employment. Denying such access to transgender individuals, whose gender identity is different from the gender assigned at birth, while affording it to similarly situated non-transgender employees, violates Title VII,” the letter continued.
Federal officials have given the state until close of business Monday to state whether they will accept the government’s rebuke and reverse House Bill 2, which prevented Charlotte’s anti-discrimination ordinance for public restrooms.
McCrory has not stated how the legislature will respond to the Obama administration’s ultimatum.
In the aftermath of the N.C. law, companies and musicians said they would not conduct business in the Tar Heel State. McCrory has criticized them for hurting taxpayers, who do not deserve that response.
